High cholesterol levels
Cholesterol is a soft wax-like substance found in the bloodstream and body vessels. It is vital for cell formation, hormones stability, and other bodily functions. Cholesterol comes from two sources: 1.Your liver produces Cholesterol. 2 You consume Cholesterol in meat and dairy products. If too much Cholesterol is present in your body, it sticks to the walls of the arteries, and narrows or even blocks the arteries, thus increasing risk of heart disease or stroke.
Description
Cholesterol and other fats can't dissolve in the blood. They travel through the blood in different types of packages, called lipoproteins.
Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) called 'bad cholesterol', carry cholesterol to the body. Too much LDL can cause the arteries to clog.
High-density lipoproteins (HDL) do not clog your arteries. Instead it helps clear bad cholesterol from your blood A high level of HDL can protect you from a heart attack.
Your triglyceride level is also an important part of your cholesterol picture. Triglycerides are a type of fat the body uses to store energy. Only small amounts are found in the blood. Having a high triglyceride level along with high LDL cholesterol may increase your chances of having a heart disease more than having only a high LDL cholesterol level.
The balance between the types of cholesterol and triglyceride determines your total cholesterol level. The ideal levels are as follows:
Total cholesterol [mg/dL]
- Desirable - less than 200
- Borderline - 200 to 240
- Undesirable - greater than 240
HDL cholesterol [mg/dL]
- Desirable - greater than 40
- Borderline - 35 to 45
- Undesirable - less than 35
LDL cholesterol [mg/dL]
- Desirable - less than 130
- Borderline - 130 to 160
- Undesirable - greater than 160
Total cholesterol/HDL
- Desirable - 3.5 : 1
- Borderline - [3.5 - 5] : 1
- Undesirable - less than 5 : 1
Triglycerides [mg/dL]
- Desirable - less than 150
- Borderline - 150 to 200
- Undesirable - grater than 200
People who have a higher total cholesterol level are at significant risk for a heart attack, despite a favorable HDL level. Also, people who have normal cholesterol levels but low HDL levels are also at increased risk for a heart attack.
Risk factors of high Cholesterol
Since cholesterol is so closely linked to the risk of heart diseases and stroke, we need to keep in mind the factors that influence the levels of cholesterol in our body.
- Diet: Food containing saturated fat and trans-fats increase cholesterol levels. saturated fats are the fats found in foods like butter, ghee, suet, tallow, lard, coconut oil, cottonseed oil, and palm kernel oil, dairy products (especially cream and cheese), meat, chocolate, and some prepared foodsWeight: Being overweight can increase LDL levels, Triglycerides also lead to high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart diseases.
- Age: The risk of high cholesterol increases with age
- Gender: Before menopause, women tend to have lower total cholesterol levels than men of the same age. After menopause, however, women's LDL levels tend to rise.
- Genetics: Some people are genetically inclined to having high levels of cholesterol
- Diseases: Diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure can cause higher accumulation of fatty deposits inside the arteries some other factors that have an undesired effect on the cholesterol levels are high stress levels, smoking and a sedentary lifestyle with no exercise and incorrect eating habits.
Treatment and Care
Keeping a check on your cholesterol levels is the first step towards preventing high cholesterol levels. Doctors emphasize diet, exercise, and weight loss to reduce high cholesterol levels. Include fruits, vegetables, and fat-free and low-fat dairy, and whole-grain, high-fiber foods regularly in your diet. If lifestyle changes do not control your cholesterol levels or if you have a high risk of cardiovascular diseases; then your doctor could prescribe medications along with diet regulations.
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